I am trying to do a flight with the 737NGX following FSX ATC (yes, I know, FSX ATC sucks so let's not get into that but stay on topic ^_^ ). The problem is that I do know how to fly the 737NGX in 'automatic' mode, so how everything goes after completely setting up the FMC and let the plane do all the flying automatically. However, as soon as I have to do something different and I want to switch to flying still with the autopilot but with manually entered settings (so ignoring the FMC) I am totally lost...

 

In the Airbus X for instance I can go to HDG mode while speed and alt are still in managed mode. I can simply change the altitude and the plane will change alt while still in managed mode and the speed still being taken care off by the plane itself. In the 737NGX however as soon as I manually enter another altitude the speed window opens and I apparently have to take care of that manually...

 

Well, in short: is there a tutorial (pdf, YouTube) somewhere that explains how to override the FMC and let the plane any heading or altitude I want while still being automated as much as possible? Hope I am still making sense here... ^_^

I can go to HDG mode while speed and alt are still in managed mode.

 

You can do the same thing in the 737. To fly a heading press the HDG SEL button. To maintain an altitude, select the altitude and press ALT HOLD. Press the LVL CHG button to climb/descend and maintain speed by pitch. Use vertical speed to climb/descend according to a certain rate of descent. To fly a certain speed, select the speed and press the SPD button.

 

I manually enter another altitude the speed window opens and I apparently have to take care of that manually...

 

 

Press the ALT INTV button below the altitude select window. That willl initiate a climb/descent.

 

is there a tutorial (pdf, YouTube) somewhere that explains how to override the FMC and let the plane any heading or altitude I want while still being automated as much as possible?

 

There is a tutorial written by Tom Risager (http://library.avsim.net/search.php?SearchTerm=tom+risager&CatID=root&Go=Search (second file)). He covers both LNAV, VNAV, and other forms of the autoflight system.

I'd say the key is understanding the lateral and vertical modes. I've never flown the Airbus, but the Boeing is probably a little more basic in the vertical.

 

Part of understanding the modes is knowing what is active, and that's looking at the FMA on your Flight Display.

 

Here is a very basic "profile":

 

If on a STAR, I'll use LNAV/VNAV and ALT INT and SPD INT as appropriate.

If on a vector, HDG SEL, obviously.

Alt changes while on a vector >2000ft LVL CHG, 2000 or less V/S.

 

If you try to pair VNAV with HDG SEL in descent, VNAV can get confused, so that's not a great pairing.

 

The DESC page is great for figuring out a good V/S if you don't need to dive with LVL CHG.

 

I'm not sure if that was too basic for you, but I'm sure others will chime in too.

 

DCA awaits! <_<

 

Have fun.

Thanks so far but may main problem (should have been more clearer about that) is the speed: with VNAV enabled the speed window shows dots and everything is taken care off automatically. But as soon as I select another vertical mode, I have to enter the speeds manually and that's my problem. What I really would like is to stay in VNAV but change the desired altitudes on the fly. That's what I can do in the Airbus (change the altitude but keep it in managed mode). But apparently (what Matt said) that won't work out very well.

 

Guess I just have to figure out the right speeds for the various phases of flight and enter them manually when needed... Gives me something else to do to prevent boredom... ^_^

ALT INTV is the button for you

 

It will let you change altitude when still in VNAV.

VNAV is a combined mode of speed and altitude, both can be controlled by SPD and ALT INTV without disconnecting the FMC guidance (vertical)

In the lateral mode, LNAV will be always disconnected if another mode is active (as it is a single mode)

Thanks! I will give that a try!

This is not a RTFM response!

 

The various tutorials and documentation that came with the NGX, along with the tremendous videos on You Tube can really help!

 

By using the materials so many have worked so hard to provide, you will learn far more things (and far more quickly) than answers to questions you'll post here. In fact, I might add that Google is truly our friend with Flight Simulation. The materials out there are so incredible, and the knowledge you'll gain will propel you so much further than merely posting one question at a time here in the forums.

 

Here's something else, if you're interested. There is a closet group of former and existing pilots and flight sim'rs with expeirence ranging from 10 to 25 years take guys up in a complex third party airliner where we share the cockpit, quickly write and file a flight plan, preflight the aircraft, work with ATC, and make a few 2 hour flights. The guys are all experienced with the technical side of FSX and related software, and with the NGX and other high end third party aircraft. After a few of these sessions, you'll be well on your way, and will have been introduced to more than you would have guessed at. Stick with it, and you'll learn curve will be greatly compressed. We only take on a few guys at a time, and presently have only two slots open. PM me if you're interested, or check out OVPA here on AVSIM.

 

It's a wonderful learning adventure, this incredible hobby of ours.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Dave

ALT INTV is the button for you

 

It will let you change altitude when still in VNAV.

VNAV is a combined mode of speed and altitude, both can be controlled by SPD and ALT INTV without disconnecting the FMC guidance (vertical)

In the lateral mode, LNAV will be always disconnected if another mode is active (as it is a single mode)

 

ALT INTV is indeed what I needed. BTW In order to select a higher cruising altitude, you do need to set that first in the FMC.

 

This is not a RTFM response!

 

The various tutorials and documentation that came with the NGX, along with the tremendous videos on You Tube can really help!

 

By using the materials so many have worked so hard to provide, you will learn far more things (and far more quickly) than answers to questions you'll post here. In fact, I might add that Google is truly our friend with Flight Simulation. The materials out there are so incredible, and the knowledge you'll gain will propel you so much further than merely posting one question at a time here in the forums.

 

Here's something else, if you're interested. There is a closet group of former and existing pilots and flight sim'rs with expeirence ranging from 10 to 25 years take guys up in a complex third party airliner where we share the cockpit, quickly write and file a flight plan, preflight the aircraft, work with ATC, and make a few 2 hour flights. The guys are all experienced with the technical side of FSX and related software, and with the NGX and other high end third party aircraft. After a few of these sessions, you'll be well on your way, and will have been introduced to more than you would have guessed at. Stick with it, and you'll learn curve will be greatly compressed. We only take on a few guys at a time, and presently have only two slots open. PM me if you're interested, or check out OVPA here on AVSIM.

 

It's a wonderful learning adventure, this incredible hobby of ours.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Dave

 

Thanks for the invitation, much appreciated! However it's my kind of thing (sharing cockpits, 2 hour flights, etc.). But again, thanks for the invite! ^_^

I don't know if the ALT INTV is covered in the pmdg tutorials, but you can use them to learn other things.

If you need a detailed description on what the buttons do search in the pmdg manual vol 2 (use the search function) and it will explain what it does.

ALT INTV is indeed what I needed. BTW In order to select a higher cruising altitude, you do need to set that first in the FMC.

 

Just select that altitude and then press the ALT INTV button and it'll change automaticly in the FMC. The Airbus A320 should do the same I think if you set a higher altitude and push the alt knob (Not moddeled in the basic Airbus X though).

The manual is a very useful source of info as it is taken from the real one. :wink:

Just select that altitude and then press the ALT INTV button and it'll change automaticly in the FMC. The Airbus A320 should do the same I think if you set a higher altitude and push the alt knob (Not moddeled in the basic Airbus X though).

 

While the Airbus had no trouble doing that, the 737NGX did: after selecting a higher altitude using the alt knob only and pressing ALT INTV the FMC kept nagging me about resetting the altitude. It even stopped climbing at a certain point. Maybe I did something wrong (again ^_^ ) but only after changing the cruise alt to a higher one in the FMC, and turning the knob and pressing ALT INTV after doing so, all went well. Going to lower altitudes can be done with just the knob and ALT INTV without any problems.

Jeroen, please search in the manual V2 the words: Altitude Intervention (ALT INTV) Switch, you will find a complete description for climb, cruise and descent and what changes on the FMC

DCA awaits!

 

Be nice to my airport! Did you get in after the fog lifted? I know a couple buddies of mine were stuck at their origin because IAD was reporting 0SM vis for a while.

 

 

Be nice to my airport! Did you get in after the fog lifted? I know a couple buddies of mine were stuck at their origin because IAD was reporting 0SM vis for a while.

It was CAVOK when when landed 19. My first time in to DCA. I did the TO on 1 this morning. Mountain wave over Montana. Good times.